ratchetlike en · ADJ
Etymology
From ratchet + -like.
Meanings
-
Resembling or characteristic of a ratchet.
Tiny upward-facing hairs on the lower portion of the awns have a ratchetlike function, preventing the awns from backsliding once they’ve moved.
2007 May 15, Henry Fountain, “How a Vast Ice Sheet Put the Squeeze on Earth (and Its Gravity)”, in New York Times:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most ratchetlike | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more ratchetlike | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |